Subject-verb agreement rules are essential in ensuring that your sentences are clear, concise, and grammatically correct. These rules dictate the usage of verbs in relation to the subject of the sentence. In this article, we will be discussing the eleventh rule of subject-verb agreement.

Rule 11: Collective Nouns

Collective nouns refer to groups of people, animals, or things, such as a herd, a team, a group, or a family. When using a collective noun as the subject of a sentence, we need to consider whether we want to emphasize the group as a unit or as individuals.

For example, consider the sentence “The team is playing well today.” In this sentence, the team is being viewed as a single unit, so we use the singular verb “is.” On the other hand, if we want to focus on the individual members of the team, we could write “The team are arriving at the stadium early.” Here, we use the plural verb “are” to reflect the individual actions of each team member.

Another example is “The family is going on vacation.” Here, “family” is a collective noun being viewed as a single unit, so we use the singular verb “is.” However, if we want to emphasize the family members as individuals, we could write “The family are packing their suitcases.” This use of the plural verb “are” reflects the individual actions of each family member.

In summary, when using collective nouns as the subject of a sentence, consider whether you want to focus on the group as a unit or as individuals. Use a singular verb to emphasize the group as a single unit, and use a plural verb to emphasize the individual members of the group. Remember that subject-verb agreement is crucial in making sure that your sentences are grammatically correct and easy to understand.